hi,does someone know on which label this version of i am a levi was released:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJEKNgFia4Ait has such a beautiful intro!it's different from the haile i hymn LP and also different from the concrete jungle 7"thanks

I only know two different mixes of the album. Chapter 1 (Island LP, 1978) and Chapter 2 (Jahmani LP, 1988). Adding to the confusion however Chapter 2 is marketed as Chapter 1 on CD release. But there's only two of the four tracks that are different mixes from what I recall, even if it's not that radically different though (some flutes and stuff added).

The song in question comes in several different mixes however; Concrete Jungle 7", Jahmani 7", Jahmani/Basic Channel 12" and the two LP's.

Island LP Chapter 1: lengh approximately 5:04 - totally diferent mix that even sounds a bit faster (I mean a bit more high pitched) at the exact speed of 33 1/3 +-0 rpm. The kick drum sound much more defined and the bass sounds definitely heavier to me. The organ is almost unhearable compared to the other two mixes. The hihats are placed/mixed in the middle. Longer delay on solo gtrs + more reverb on the vox tracks etc...

My conclusion: the third mix is radically different from the first two and it's also my favorite. Similar to the Jahmani 7" mix. Probably sounds best on the sound system.

I've never heard or seen the Tree Roots CD so I can't vouch for that one. But I've got the Island/Mango CD and to me they sounded similar enough to not discern any differences between Chapter 2 LP and Chapter 1 CD when it comes to bass heaviness etc I see it as master formatting being the culprit and not the mixing in the studio (have a heard time thinking an engineer would mix this release to be less defined and less dynamic).

Chapter 2 Tres Roots CD - ignore the pic in the vid cause this one doesn't sound like Chapter 1 Island CD - I guess the guy who uploaded it didn't scan the Chapter 2 CD sleeve but instead simply used the first jpg he found on the web instead. I still hear it's Chapter 2 cause it's with flutes and also a bit less reverb in the mix, just as I said earlier:

I hope u now can hear that there's a big big difference between how "Jah Heavy Load" is mixed (not mastered but mixed) on the Island Chapoter 1 LP and how it's mixed on the Island Chapoter 1 CD. Two completely different mixes, what else can I say?

+ the Tres Roots/Jahmani mix.

3 different mixes in total. It would be interesting to compare Tres Roots cd with Jamani LP. What if the mixes are different? I wouldn't get surprised... Never heard the Jahmani LP...

You might be right but to be honest I can't hear any difference between the first and last link with the exception of one being played slightly faster. Same reverb, same instruments coming in and out at the same points, same vocal take. I would still say it's the same mix. Big big difference for you perhaps.

The main reason Ijahman did release his own mix is because he was not satisfied with the Island mix, too many parts (horns etc.) being left off the mix.So these parts were not added, they were part of the original recording but did not appear on the first final mix.

As for the other versions of I'm A Levi and Jah Heavy Load, they're earlier versions, completely different from the album cuts, and they were released as singles circa 1975.

kalcidis wrote:You might be right but to be honest I can't hear any difference between the first and last link with the exception of one being played slightly faster. Same reverb, same instruments coming in and out at the same points, same vocal take. I would still say it's the same mix. Big big difference for you perhaps.

U're totally right about the musical part - exactly the same intruments & even same takes in both cases but they're just mixed differently. I say big big difference because I am probably becoming a sort of nerd ) But the mixes are still different... Really different.

The most important thing is that this LP or CD sounds good to our ears and brings joy and pleasure to our lives. Really. When I used to feel tired of and perhaps even a bit disillusioned with reggae music I could't listen to no reggae at all. Exept for Ijahman - especially these three albums by hims:

"Haile I Hymn", "Are We A Warrior" & "Africa"

Last edited by Roman on Thu Jan 16, 2014 1:17 am, edited 3 times in total.